Wall-paper cleaner.



Patented June 3, 1902.

INVENTUH 'W!%M./%(e% 'fzy 7/.VMATYY W. ADGOCK.

WALL PAPER CLEANER.

(Apphcat on filed Aug 29 1901) (No Model.)

[Fl-T55? U nrrnn Srn'rn's PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ADOOOK, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN LEE, OFAKRON, OHIO.

WALL-"PAPER CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,278, dated June 3,1902.

Application filed August 29, 1901. $erial No. 73,679. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ADOOCK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wall-PaperCleaners; and I do declare that the following'is a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wall-paper cleaners; and the object of theinvention is to provide a cleaner which is adapted to be used incleaning paper on the wall and to serve as a substitute for the cleanercompositions which have oflate years been quite extensively used, aswell as for rye-bread and the like.

To these ends my invention consists in a sponge-rubber cleanerconstructed and operating substantially as shown and described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved cleaner, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the sponge-rubber strip and of the rod for fasteningit in the holder, as hereinafter fully described. Fig. 4 is across-section of a modification of the sponge-rubber strip with doubleworking surfaces and of its holder; and Fig. 5 shows a cross-section ofa modification of the holder with a spring backing-plate for the sponge,as hereinafter fully described.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs.

1 and-2 the cleaner is made with a handle provided with longitudinalchannels 2 and 3, respectively, running lengthwise oppositely withintheir clamping edges, and section A has a forwardly-projecting portion4, while section B has an inturned or curved lip 5, and there issupposed to be space enough between projection 4 and lip 5 to engage andclamp the rubber strip 0 relatively as seen in Fig. 2. It may be more orless than this, but preferably about as shown. In this way the channels2 and 3 become filled with the rubber and help to hold the strip inplace, as we shall see. The said strip O has two peculiarities in itsinclined or beveled working side 6 and in its central longitudinal slit'7 in its rear adapted to receive the locking-rod tube or piece D. Thesaid slit extends into the rubber sufficiently to bring the rod Dopposite or nearly opposite lip 5 and shoulder on projection i and is ofsuch size as not only to spread the rubber on both sides of the slitinto channels 2 and 3, but especially to cramp and spread the rubber atthe shoulders of portions 4 and 5, and thus firmly grip the rubber whenthe parts are clamped together.

It will of course be understood that the over the surface thereof withmeasurable pressure of the hand. It is not important that the pressureshould be heavy, but that it should accompany a rather quick stroke.Then by wiping the rubber off after every two or three strokes, or notso often on paper that is fairly clean, the rubber is kept clean enoughto effectually cleanse the paper and leave no streaks or other traceswhatever of its own upon the paper.

Of course in work the rubber yields noticeably, having a drawing'action;but its quality is such as to enable it to be used for a very longperiod without showing any Wear or tear, and the work it does isabsolutely without fault, so far as any cast-off on the door isconcerned. Any one could handle it with white gloves Without soilingthem, and it leaves no evidences whatever of being used upon the carpetsor floor.

In Fig. i I show a double sided rubber strip which is adapted to workfrom either side or with back-and-forth strokes of the hand withoutturning the holder in the hand. Either a single or double Workingsurface can be used with practically the same construction of holder,although in this case the holder may be modified somewhat from what isshown in Fig. 2 to What is practically the same on both sides E and F,as A in Fig. 1, or it might be engaged between two clamping edges theequivalent of these. When the parts are put together, the locking rod orstrip D, which may be cylindrical or angular in cross-section, isinserted in slit 7, and the strip 0 is then placed between the two sidesA and B or E and F of the holder. The screws 8 are thereupon tightened,and the rubber is firmly clamped in the holder.

In Fig. 5 I show a further modification of the invention, having arubber strip 0 and holder parts A and B, as in Figs. 1 and 2, butsupplemented by a very thin sheet of elastic or springy metal E or itsequivalent, slotted for the passage of the clamping-screws 8 and adaptedto rest over the back of the rubber, so as to make a firm backingtherefor well up toward its thin edge 10. This flexible back brace iscalculated to aiford a wider eifective working surface 6 than isobtained without such backing; but the metal is springy enough toyieldsufficiently to get the other good effects of the rubber undiminished.The ad- 'vantageof this plate is obvious when it is noticed that therubber is soft and spongy enough to bend and turn back from the pressurein considerable measure, especially toward its reduced edge 10, and thuslose efficiency as said edge is approached; but this cannot occur in anysuch degree when the plate E is used, and the plate is made adjustable,so as to always keep it back from the edge of the rubber and not let itapproach contact with the paper.

Sheet-metal guards 9 are shown at each end of the holder opposite theends of rod D to prevent said rod from possibly working out if therewere any such tendency.

By reason of contracting the sides of the holder at the narrowingportions 4 and 5 and spreading the head or inner portion of the strip byrod or bar D a head is formed inside the holder which effectuallyconfines the rubber and makes it impossible to pull the strip out pastthe gripping portions or shoulders4 and 5.

What I claim is l. A rubber wall-paper cleaner comprising asponge-rubber portion split lengthwise at its rear and center and havingairinclined working surface, a two-part holder for said rubberconstructed to clamp thereon; and a spreader located in the base of saidsplit and adapted to spread the rubber in the holder, and screws totemporarily lock the sides of the holder together, whereby the rubbercan be removed and replaced, substantially as described.

2. The holder consisting of two clamping side sections A and B having aunion channel lengthwise within their lower edge,and screws to clampthem together, in combination with a rubber strip having its edgeextending into said channel and split lengthwise at its center, aspreader for the rubber lengthwise through the said split within saidchannel, the said rubber having an inclined working surface 6 and thesaid holder having a rigid bearing portion 4 forming a backing for saidworking surface, substantially as described.

WVitness my hand to the foregoing specification this 13th day of August,1901.

WILLIAM ADCOOK.

WVitnesses:

R. B. MOSER, H. E. lVIUDRA.

